During this session, we will be looking at two parables Jesus told. We will be looking at the parable of the lost sheep and at the parable of the lost coin. We will begin with the parable of the lost sheep.

Lost Sheep - Luke 15:1-7 1. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Verse 1 - Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

[A] Here in verse one, we find the setting for the parables we will be looking at this evening.

[B] I am not certain what town he was in, but he drew near to the publicans and the sinners to speak to them [1] This is an important factor for us to consider [a] According to Jewish tradition, both the publicans and the sinners were to be shunned [b] For Jesus to speak to these people would have going against the teaching of the Jewish leaders [2] A Publican [a] A publican was an employ of the Roman Government [3] Among the Romans there were two sorts of tax-gatherers; [a] Some were general receivers, who in each province had deputies; they collected the revenues of the empire, and accounted to the emperor. These were men of great consideration in the government; [b] Then there was the deputies, the under-collectors, the publicans of the lower order, [1-a] These were looked upon as thieves and pickpockets. [2-a] Among the Jews, the name and profession of a publican were especially odious. They could not, without the utmost reluctance, see publicans exacting tributes and impositions laid on them by foreigners, the Romans. The Galileans, or Herodians, especially, submitted to this with the greatest impatience, and thought it even unlawful. [3-a] Those of their own nation who undertook this office were looked upon as heathen. It is even said that they would not allow them to enter the temple or the synagogues, to engage in the public prayers or offices of judicature, or to give testimony in a court of justice. [c] During the time of Jesus there were many of these lower publicans, and they were hated by their own people. [4] It was these publicans along with many other sinners who Jesus went to and spike with.

Verse 2 - And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

[A] The Pharisees began talking among themselves, speaking loud enough that many could heart them.

[B] Their complaint was that Jesus was receiving sinners, and eating with them, a thing that no good and proper Jew would ever do [1] He Receives sinners [a] He receives them in a tender manner; [b] He treated them with kindness; [c] He did not drive them from his presence. [d] Is this not what he commanded us to do as well – love our enemies, and to do good to them who despitefully use us? [e] Jesus practiced what he preached. [2] He ate with them [a] He acted towards the sinners differently than the scribes and Pharisees did [b] By eating with the sinners, Christ showed that he did not despise them and did not overlook them. [3] This is the wonderful thing about our saviour. [a] It does not matter who you are - Christ cares for you [b] It does not matter what you have done or are doing – Christ cares for you [c] When others push you aside - Christ draws you unto himself [d] When other rejects you - Christ receives you unto himself

Verse 3 - And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

[A] Jesus knowing the heart of the Pharisees and hearing what they were saying – told them a parable.

Verse 4 - What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

[A] Having a Hundred Sheep [1] Jesus wasn’t referring to a certain number of sheep - he was referring to all the sheep [2] He was referring to all, both Jew and gentile [a] The whole world is the field of God [b] When one is lost in sin, he is a lost sheep, who had strayed from the fold [c] This lost sheep is out of communion with God, out from under his fellowship, on his own in the wilderness - thus if he loses one of them

[B] Doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness [1] This sounds as though the Lord is leaving his faithful followers alone, but that is not the case [2] This parable shows us the concern God had for a wandering sinner as he tried to bring it back into the fold. [3] As he looks for the lost sheep, He continues to care for the sheep that did not go astray; they are safe in the wilderness.

[C] And go after that which is lost, until he find it [1] There is a particular care God gives to the lost sheep; and though he has a hundred sheep, a considerable flock, he will not lose one, but he goes after it

[D] I want to stop here a moment and consider the church today. [1] Are we seeking the lost in this manor, or are we trying to preserve the sheep that are already in the fold? [2] Where are we spending our energies in the church of today? [3] Do we have our priorities in order? [4] What is the job of the church, to save the lost, or entertain the saints?

Verse 5 - And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

[A] When he finds it, he rejoices and takes it home on his shoulders [1] He does not turn up his nose in disgust at what the person had done [2] He does not preach at him and tell him all the things he is doing wrong [3] He picks up the lost sheep and rejoices that he had found him, and loves him back into his Fellowship

[B] Is this the wan the church acts towards those who fall from fellowship?

Verse 6 - And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

[A] When he returns home he calls his friends and neighbors to celebrate with him [1] The sheep which was lost had come home [2] The one who had strayed has returned to the fold

[B] Rejoice with me [1] The bible tells us that all the angels in heaven rejoice when one person repents and accepts Jesus as their saviour [2] When that one lost soul is found and comes to Jesus, we should all rejoice [3] When that one lost soul is found and renews his relationship with God, we should rejoice with him and show our love and goodwill, regardless of what that person has done.

[C] I have found “my” sheep which was lost. [1] The emphasis here is on the my, God has found his lost sheep [2] Questions [a] Why is it so hard for us to sometimes accept someone who had done bad things? [b] If a person hurt you or your family, and God seeks that person out and he accepts Jesus repenting of his sins, do we have a right to hate that person? [c] If a mass murder repents and comes to Jesus, how are we to treat that person?

Verse 7 - I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

[A] It’s not that God is not happy about those who does not need not repent – he is extremely proud

[B] It’s just that the one who was lost has been found and is returned to the fold

The Lost Coin - Luke 15:8-10 8. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9. And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Verse 8 - Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

[A] Again we have Jesus telling a parable

[B] A woman having ten pieces of silver [1] The woman represents God [2] The ten pieces of silver represent those who belong to God [3] Just as the silver is very special to the woman, so are we important to God.

[C] If she lose one piece [1] Is one of the precious pieces of silver is lost [2] If one of God’s precious children is lost or wanders away

[D] Doth she not light a candle? [1] Does she not turn on the light? [2] Does she not lighten the area so she can see

[E] And Sweep the house [1] Searching in every corner, [2] Searching under every chair [3] Sweeping the entire floor and the entire house searching for that one lost coin

[F] And seek diligently till she find it [1] She continues looking [2] She continues to look until she finds it

Verse 9 - And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

[A] When she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together [1] When she finds her lost coin she begins to rejoice [2] She throws party inviting her friends and neighbors

[B] Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. [1] It is her desire for her friends to rejoice with her and to celebrate the return of her lost coin to her

Verse 10 - Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

[A] This parable, again was told to show how precious man is to God.

[B] When one sinner repents, the angels rejoice with God over that one soul being found

[C] All souls are precious in God’s sight – It is his desire that none should perish but that all should have eternal life [1] It is not in the nature of God to turn his back on any lost soul, instead he continues to search for the lost and tries to get them to repent [2] Just because a person had done wrong, does not mean that God does not care for that person [a] He does, and he is willing to leave the ninety and nine or to sweep the entire house in order to find the lost.

[D] Murders find forgiveness and the grace of God before they are sent to their death

[E] Sinners suffer sickness and despair in order to make them come to a realization of Jesus

[F] Sometimes God allows family members to suffer in order to draw ones attention to his-self

[G] Unfortunately, not all turn their heart to God, nor do the seek forgiveness for their sins. [1] God gives opportunity for them to repent [2] God seeks them out and does his part [3] Unfortunately they do no respond to him and turn their life over to his ways

[H] Questions [1] If God cares this much for the lost, should we not concern ourselves with them as well? [2] If God loves the wicked enough that he sent his only begotten son to the earth to suffer and die for them – should we not be willing to suffer a little as we try to guide the lost back to Jesus? [3] If God doesn’t turn his back on the wicked, even saving them before going to the electric chair – should we not be willing to forgive other for the thing the do to us? [4] If God can love a wicked person like me, should not I love my neighbor as myself? [5] If the angels in heaven rejoice when a wicked person repents, should not we accept that person and rejoice with them? [6] If God can forgive anyone for their sins, why is it so hard for us to accept their forgiveness, or to forgive them ourselves?